porsche

Unofficially, the Porsche Carrera GT is a racecar, a racecar

built for the street. What makes it a racecar is not

necessarily the huge power produced by its V10 engine

or the carbon fiber construction that keeps everything very

lightweight – although these features surely make it a fast

car. It’s more the sum of its parts that make this car worth

every bit of its $440,000 price tag.

The Porsche Carrera GT was introduced as a 2004 model

and until 2005 there were already a few changes in order

to make the Carrera GT the new Porsche super car. These were

minor updates in order to make it a little more street friendly.

Between the supplemental bar hoops is now mounted a glass

screen. The seats height is adjusted along with the additional

bolstering in the thigh area. The Carrera GT is easy recognizable,

as it’s a low, sleek, lightweight roadster, very beautiful on the

outside as it is on the inside. Two removable panels that can

be stored in the front trunk make the foul weather protection

available.

The car has unique features, among which are: 5.7 liter, 605

horsepower V10 engine, monocoque chassis with

Porsche-patented engine and transmission mounts made of

carbon-reinforced plastic and the first use of a ceramic

composite clutch in a production car. A very important aspect

is that The Carrera is safe and stable at speeds up to 205 mph,

thanks to its aerodynamic and race-bred suspension package.

The design of the suspension is so sophisticated that the

shape of its components improves the Carrera GT`s aerodynamics.

The designers used lightweight materials such as magnesium

for the car’s substantial wheels and the frames of its special sport

seats, the result being a faster and safer car. To prove so, The

Carrera GT accelerates from a standing start to 62 mph (100km/h)

in only 3.9 seconds reaches 100 mph (160 km/h) in less than seven

seconds, 125 mph (200 km/h) in less than 10 seconds, and can

achieve a top test-track speed of 205 mph (330 km/h).

What makes this car have these impressive results is it’s 5.5

liter, normally aspirated V10 engine for racing created in the

development center in Weissach, Germany. That engine’s bores

have been enlarged to displace 5.7 liters in the Carrera GT. It has

a very low center of gravity, a 68-degree V angle and four

valves-per-cylinder heads. Since the block, crankshaft and

camshafts are all made of light alloys, the engine weights

only 472 pounds (214 kg).

To stop this “monster” Porsche`s team used a high-tech

braking system. Developed for demanding motorsports

applications, ceramic brakes are the first to work for on-road use.

The massive 15 inch ventilated discs and six-piston calipers have

the amazing capacity of bringing the car to a sure and safe stop,

matched only by the stunning acceleration of Carrera GT.

Porsche Carrera GT is definitely a exotic appearance, a

car that can do it all: fascinate you with its good looks, astound

you with its performance and abilities on the race track.